Of course as video gamers, we all know and love pacman. The concept was so simple, and as with Space Invaders, highly addictive. I'm not too sure which version of pacmania came first, but I do know that the first version of it that I played was on the Acorn of all systems. I absolutely loved it and so when it was released on the Master System I very quickly got hold of a copy.

Gameplay

The concept of the new and improved 'pacman of the nineties' is broadly the same as the original game. As pacman, you must gobble all of the dots on each level, avoiding Clyde, Sue and Funky (the ghosts) unless you munch a power-up which then turns the hunters into the hunted! Oh how I love seeing the ghosts hard on your tail only to turn and run (read: float), as though it were Ken Dodd seeing the tax-man coming! As an added twist in pacmania you can now 'bounce' and this - if judged correctly can be a useful tool when you find yourself surrounded! Those poor ghosts just never saw it coming...
All in all, pacmania's gameplay is just as addictive as the original, and clearly the developers were careful not to meddle overly with the main concept - something that has spoiled many a sequal of an original masterpiece.

Graphics

The graphics are very good in pacmania. It has to be said that they are not quite as crisp as the original version I played, and not as detailed as some other formats the game was released on, but as far the the Master system goes the graphics are far from shoddy. Colourful and fun are the best way to describe what we're given, and the scrolling is extremely smooth which of course helps.

Sound & Music

The sound is not too bad in pacmania, as with so many Master System games it is certainly not up there with 'Steps', 'Fast Food Rockers' and 'Chico' (all of my favourite musical artists and guru's, honestly....), but everything could be a lot worse and it doesn't have you reaching for the mute button which is always a bonus.

Controls

Very simple to master the controls as you could imagine, the only thing that really has to be mastered is the timing of your bounce. Sometimes it can be a little frustrating to bounce just too early and land right on top of one of your arch nemesis, but with just a little practice this will stop being a problem.

Replay Value

Scores

Again, pacmania is a game that everyone should enjoy, young or old and no matter your favourite genre of game. As such it's always good to play even if you only have a spare five minutes, no matter how many times you've played it it will always have replay value.

Conclusion

I've always found it quite strange that when great, or even good games are discussed for the Master system that Pacmania is rarely brought into the discussion. It is a gem, and often overlooked unfairly. You all know the concept, it hasn't changed radically and if you don't own it then you really should hang your head in shame. For the sake of a couple of pounds or dollars on ebay, or down at your local game store in the bargain bin - get it. GET IT NOW!